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Mario Gomez will miss Germany's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan after picking up a thigh strain in training.

Last Updated: 22/03/13 1:30pm

Mario Gomez (r): Picked up a thigh injury in training

The 27-year-old has been told to rest for a few days, meaning he may be available for the return fixture in Nuremberg on Tuesday night.

His absence leaves Germany coach Joachim Low with only one striker in Lukas Podolski, yet a Spanish-style system with no single forward is likely to be employed in Astana, with Mario Gotze and Marco Reus both given free roles as attacking midfielders.

Regular striker Miroslav Klose is also sidelined due to injury while Low resisted the temptation to pick Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling in his squad once again.

Germany will be looking to extend their three-point cushion over Sweden at the top of their World Cup qualifying group in Kazakhstan night.